Recurrent corneal erosion caused by retained sutures in blepharoplasty.

Purpose: To present recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) caused by late suture exposure after blepharoplasty.

Methods: Four patients who have unilateral RCE were found to have previous blepharoplasty. The RCE was associated with late suture exposure. The clinical courses, characteristics, methods to identify the suture exposure and treatment were presented.

Results: The clinical presentations including local erosion of upper bulbar conjunctiva, corneal abrasion lines, local corneal epithelial defects with rough border, and subepithelial opacity were noticed in all four patients. RCE symptoms exaggerated in eye blinking and did not respond to artificial tears treatment. Erosion recurred soon after the removal of therapeutic contact lenses. They underwent blepharoplasty 1-10 years before RCE emerged, and the RCE lasted 1-8 months before suture exposure was found. RCE healed within 1 week after suture removal.

Conclusions: Suture exposure may occur several years after blepharoplasty and could cause RCE. Thorough exploration of the fornix by double eyelid eversion can identify the hidden sutures in such patients.